WILLIAM ROSSITER (1831-1897) was apprenticed as a trunk maker but, after attending classes at the Working Men’s College in Great Ormond Street, became a teacher and published several text books. He established the South London Working Men’s College on Blackfriars Road in 1868. In 1878, he opened up two rooms in his house to the public and lent books from his own collection. The following year art exhibitions began to take place; aimed at working men and women these were always open on Sundays. In 1882 the college, free library and art gallery formally merged to become the South London Fine Art Gallery and Free Library. Rossiter bought Portland House on Peckham Road in 1889 in order to build a permanent home for the gallery in the grounds of the house.
William Rossiter owned the pastel for Angeli Ministrantes